Author: Andrew Rogers

In the mountains of the southern Peloponnese, Greek firs – long considered among the country’s hardiest trees – are turning brown and dying in vast patches. When forest researcher Dimitrios Avtzis inspected a recent fire site, he found hundreds of hectares of dead and dying firs well beyond the burn zone. The scale was unlike anything he had seen before. Experts say the die-off is being driven by multiple pressures acting together. Prolonged drought has weakened the trees, while declining winter snowfall has reduced vital moisture in soils. This stress has left firs vulnerable to bark beetles, which have spread…

Around one in 10 people in the UK aged 70 and over may have brain changes linked to Alzheimer’s disease, according to a large population-based study published in Nature. The findings are not a diagnosis but suggest more than 1 million people could meet NHS criteria for anti-amyloid treatments, far above previous estimates. Researchers analysed blood samples from nearly 11,500 people using a newly approved biomarker test that can detect Alzheimer’s changes earlier than before. The prevalence of these changes rose sharply with age, reaching about two-thirds of people over 90. Experts say the results could transform early detection, but…

The carnivorous pitcher plant Nepenthes khasiana has been found to lace its sugary nectar with a toxic nerve agent to subdue prey. The plant oozes sweet liquid along the rim of its pitchers to attract insects, especially ants, but the nectar contains isoshinanolone, a compound that disrupts the nervous system, causing sluggish movement, muscle weakness and disorientation. Combined with water-absorbing sugars that make the rim extremely slippery, the toxin increases the chance that insects fall into the pitcher, where they are digested. The strategy helps the plant obtain nutrients in the poor soils where it grows.

The first new treatments for gonorrhoea in decades have been approved in the US, raising hopes of tackling the rapid spread of drug-resistant strains of the infection. Gonorrhoea causes an estimated 82 million infections globally each year, with cases rising sharply in Europe and England. Resistance to existing frontline antibiotics has increased significantly, prompting the World Health Organization to label the disease a priority pathogen. Two new drugs have now been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration. Zoliflodacin, approved on 12 December, cured more than 90% of genital gonorrhoea cases in clinical trials and can be taken as…

The US company behind the Roomba robot vacuum cleaner has filed for bankruptcy protection and agreed to be taken over by one of its Chinese suppliers. iRobot, which pioneered robotic vacuum cleaners in the early 2000s, said it had entered Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings in Delaware as part of a restructuring deal with Picea Robotics, a subsidiary of its main supplier. The US-listed company said the agreement would allow it to continue operating while stabilising its finances. The company has struggled in recent years amid supply chain disruption, falling demand after the pandemic and growing competition from cheaper rivals. Earlier…

A new review suggests psychedelic treatments may help people with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), while cannabis shows little lasting benefit. The study, published in the Journal of Psychiatric Research and led by Dr Michael Van Ameringen of McMaster University, examined alternative treatments for OCD, a condition where up to 60% of patients gain limited relief from standard therapies. After analysing published studies, conference data and preliminary trial results, researchers found stronger evidence supporting psychedelics such as psilocybin than cannabinoids like THC or CBD. Psilocybin appears to affect the brain’s default mode network, which is linked to rumination and overactivity in OCD,…

Scientists have identified genetic changes in polar bears that could help them adapt to rising temperatures, marking what researchers believe is the first clear link between climate change and DNA changes in a wild mammal. A study by the University of East Anglia found that polar bears living in south-east Greenland differ genetically from those in colder northern regions. The research focused on so-called “jumping genes” – mobile pieces of DNA that can influence how other genes behave. These were found to be far more active in bears living in warmer, less icy environments. Researchers analysed blood samples from bears…

The EU’s planned ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars from 2035 is set to be weakened, according to a senior MEP, in a move likely to provoke strong opposition from environmental groups. Manfred Weber, president of the European People’s party in the European parliament, said the European Commission is expected to soften the rule so it no longer amounts to a total ban on combustion engines. Instead of requiring all new cars to have zero CO₂ emissions from 2035, manufacturers would need to meet a 90% fleet-wide emissions reduction target, allowing some hybrid vehicles to remain…

Scientists have documented a surprising partnership off the coast of British Columbia: orcas and Pacific white-sided dolphins hunting salmon together. Northern resident killer whales usually hunt alone, but new drone and underwater footage shows them following dolphins acting as “scouts.” The dolphins chase large Chinook salmon ahead of the whales, then feed on scraps after the whales make the kill — and the whales show no aggression in return. Researchers ruled out other explanations, such as dolphins seeking protection or stealing food, and concluded the predators appear to be cooperating. Tag data also revealed alternating echolocation clicks from both species…

A new Cambridge University study has placed humans 7th out of 35 mammal species for monogamy, ranking above meerkats and gibbons but behind species such as Eurasian beavers and moustached tamarins. Researchers analysed genetic data to compare how often siblings shared both parents, finding humans averaged 66% full siblings, while beavers reached 72%. At the bottom of the list were highly promiscuous species like chimpanzees, dolphins and mountain gorillas. The study shows humans evolved an unusually strong tendency toward pair-bonding compared with most mammals, though social pressures, religion and serial monogamy still shape modern behaviour. Scientists say the real puzzle…